Apparatus for removing the tops of containers

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for opening metal containers including a casing to be supported on the container. A drive shaft, driven either through a manual crank or an electric motor, is journalled within the casing and carries a drive roller that rides against the inner edge of the chime on the container. A slide is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the casing and a second shaft is journalled within the slide and carries a cutter adapted to engage the outer edge of the chime. The second shaft is driven from the first shaft through a gear drive. The slide is moved toward the casing to bring the cutter into engagement with the chime by a lever arm which is pivoted to the casing and acts against the outer end of the slide.

United States Patent [1 1 3,667,120 Krist 51 June 6, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THE 3,302,283 2/1967 Carter ..30 9 TOPS OF CONTAINERS 2,997,786 8/1961 Kean ..30/9 2,138,538 11/1938 Fluharty ..30/15.5 [72] Inventor: William F. Krlst, N106 W20997 Park Hill Lane Germamown 53022 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. 22 l 10 970 Att0rneyAndrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall An apparatus for opening metal containers including a casing U-Sn I t t A [51] f through a manual crank or an electric motor, is joumalled [58] Field of Search ..30/4, 8,5,9, 15, 15.5 within the casing and Carries a drive roller that rides against 56 R f d the inner edge of the chime on the container. A slide is 1 e erences mounted for lateral movement with respect to the casing and a UNITED STATES PATENTS second shaft is journalled within the slide carries a cutter adapted to engage the outer edge of the chime. The second 1,935,680 1 H1933 Wolforsdorf ..30/15.5 h ft is driven f the fi t h f through a gear i The 1,393,412 1 Waller slide is moved toward the casing to bring the cutter into en- !42496O 8/1922 Waller at 9 gagement with the chime by a lever arm which is pivoted to 1,687,582 l0/1928 Noble the casing and acts against the outer end of the slide. 3,161,952 12/1964 Czapiewski ..30/4 3,1 10,962 1 H1963 Knst et a1. ..30/4 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I iunm APPARATUS FOR REMOVING THE TOPS OF CONTAINERS This invention relates to an apparatus for removing the top of a metal can or container.

In the past, mechanical openers have been employed for the apparatus includes a casing which is supported by the container and a drive shaft, driven either manually through a hand crank or through an electric motor, is journalled for rotation within the casing. The lower end of the drive shaft carries a drive roller adapted to ride against the inner edge of the chime on the container. Mounted for lateral movement with respect to the casing is a slide, and a second shaft, located at a slight angle with respect to the first shaft, is journalled within the slide and is driven from the first shaft through a pair of interconnected pinion gears.

A cutter is mounted on the lower end of the second sh and is adapted to engage and sever the outer edge of the chime.

To move the slide with respect to the casing, a lever arm is pivoted to the casing and is provided with a cam surface that engages the outer end of the slide. By pivoting the lever arm, the cam surface engages the end of the slide to move the slide toward the casing and thereby bring the cutter into engagement with the chime.

By rotating the first shaft either through a manual crank or an electric motor, the unit will be driven around the periphery of the container with the cutter severing the chime to remove the top from the container.

The drive roller, which rides against the inner edge of the chime and the cutter are designed with a configuration so that the top will be deformed as it is cut, thereby enabling the top to be removed from the container without the necessity of bending or prying the container or the top. Pryingthe top out of the can is undesirable, not only because it increases the time involved in removing the top, but in many cases the containers are resold and prying will deform the container to destroy its resale value.

The unit of the invention is relatively simple in construction, having fewer number of bearings than conventional devices and this reduces the overall cost of the unit.

The unit is adapted to be operated either manually through a hand crank or alternately by use of an electric motor such as by attachment to the shaft of an electric drill.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is top view of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus as installed on a container;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the lever and attaching plate;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the roller which is adapted to ride on the chime of the can;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing the drive roller and cutter engaged with the chime on the container; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a modified from of the invention.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a device for opening or removing the top of metal containers or cans. The device includes a casing 1 having an open top that is enclosed by a cover 2. Brackets 3 extend upwardly from the cover and are secured to the casing by means screws 4. A handle 5 is mounted between the brackets 3 and is adapted to be grasped by the operator during operation of the device.

A vertical shaft 6 is mounted for rotation within the casing l in an upper bearing 7 and a lower bearing 8. Bevel gear 9 is secured to the shaft and is driven by a bevel gear 10 mounted on the inner end of a horizontal shaft 11 that is journalled within an extension 12 extending outwardly from the casing 1. To rotate shaft 11 a crank arm 13 is adapted to be attached to the outer end of shaft 11 and by rotating the crank arm, the shaft will operate through the bevel gears 9 and 10 to rotate the vertical shaft 6.

Mounted on the lower end of shaft 6 is a drive roller 15, and the roller is secured to the end of the shaft by a nut 16 which is threaded on the shaft and is located within a recess 17 formed in the bottom of the drive roller. Washer 18 is located between the drive roller and the lower end of the bearing 8.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the lower cylindrical portion of the drive roller is adapted to ride against the inner edge of the chime 19 of the can 20. And the upper annular end 21 of the drive roller is flared outwardly and extends at an angle to the lower cylindrical end of the roller.

To provide support for the unit as it travels along the periphery of the can, a shoe 22 is secured by bolts to the easing 1 and the lower edge of the shoe rides on the upper surface 23 of the can 20.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the' lower end of the casing 1 is provided with a generally U-shaped or curved flange 24 which surrounds the drive roller 15 and provides a shield for the drive roller.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pinion 25 is mounted on shaft 6 beneath the bevel gear 10 and pinion is adapted to engage and drive a second pinion 26 mounted on the upper end of shaft 27. The axis of shaft 27 is disposed at an angle of about 3 to 6, and preferably about 4 to the axis of shaft 6, and the teeth of the pinions 25 and 26 are arranged so that they will engage even though the axes of shafts 6 and 27 are not parallel.

Shaft 27 is journalled for rotation within a bearing 28 mounted in a slide 29, and the lower end of the shaft 27 carries a cutter 30. The cutter is secured to the shaft by a nut 31 which is threaded on the lower end of the shaft and a washer 32 is interposed between the upper end of the cutter 30 and the lower end of the bearing 28.

Cutter 30 is provided with an annular sharp knife edge 33 which is arranged to engage and sever the outer edge of the chime 19 as best shown in FIG. 6. In addition to the knife edge 33, cutter 30 is also provided with an annular surface 34 which is adapted to ride against the outer surface of the sidewall of the can 20. v

The slide 29 is mounted for lateral movement with respect to the casing 1 so that the cutter 30 can be moved toward and away from the drive roller 15. To provide this lateral movement, a pair of rods 35 extend freely through openings in the slide 29 and in a plate 36 and the inner ends of the rods are threaded within openings in the casing 1. Plate 36 is connected to the outer surface of casing 1 by a series of bolts 37 and the heads 38 of the rods 35 bear against the outer surface of the plate 36. Rods 35 function as guides so that slide 29 can move freely with respect to the casing.

To move the slide 29 laterally with respect to the casing l, a lever arm 39 is mounted within a recess 40 in plate 36 and is pivoted to the plate by a pin 41. The head of the lever arm 39 is provided with a curved cam surface 42 that is adapted to engage the outer end 43 of the slide. The cam surface 42 has a progressively larger radius of curvature, and as the lever arm 39 is pivoted to a downward position, the cam surface 42 will move the slide 29 inwardly to bring the cutter 30 into tight bearing engagement with the chime 19. The cam surface 42 is self-locking due to its progressively increasing radius of curvature so that the lever arm 39 will not freely pivot to release the cutter from engagement with the chime.

Additional stability is provided by means of a curved shoe 44 carried by a bracket 45 on slide 29. Shoe 44 is adapted to engage the outer surface of the side wall of the can and acts in combination with the shoe 21 to stabilize movement of the unit along the edge of the can.

In addition, a pair of rollers 46 are mounted for rotation on arms 47 and extend outwardly from the casing l. The rollers 46 are adapted to ride on the upper edge of the chime as the unit advances along the periphery of the can or container 20.

In operation, the lever arm 39 is movedto an upward position so that the slide 29 can be moved to its outward or inoperative position. The unit is then mounted on the can 20 withthe drive roller 15 engaged with the inner edge of chime l9. Lever arm 39 is then moved downwardly causing the cam surface'42 to act against the end surface43 on the slide to move .the cutter 30 into tight bearing engagement with the inner edge of chime 19. With the device locked in this position the hand crank 13 is rotated to thereby drive the unit along the edge of the can to cut the chime and release the top 23.

The upper annular flange 21 on the drive roller 15 is at an angle of about 60 to the horizontal sothat initially it will be spaced from the upper edge of the chime. As the cutter 30 slices the chime, the chime will defon-n against the angular flange 21 so it can be readily removed from the can without prying.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the device is adapted to be powered by a small electric motor, such as a conventional home workshop electric drill. in this embodiment an extension 48 extends outwardly from the casing 1 and a shaft 49 is journalled. within the extension by bearings 50. The shaft of a conventional electric drill is adapted to be coupled to the outer end of the shaft 49, and the inner end of the shaft carries a worm 51 that drives a worm gear 52 secured to the vertical shaft 6. In this embodiment the worm gear 52 is substituted for the bevel gear and the remaining drive mechanism for driving both the drive roller and the cutter 30 is identical to that previously described.

As the cutter 30 engages the outer surface of the chime 19, any metal chips or shavings or foreign material will fall along the outside of the container and not to the inside where it could possiblycontaminate the contents of the container..

A further advantage of the invention is that the cutting edge 33 can only penetrate into the chime to a preselected depth due to the engagement of the inner end of slide 29 with the casing wall, and this prevents over-tightening of the cutting mechanism and eliminates any possible damage to the cutter 30 or drive roll 15.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as-the invention.

1 claim:

1. An apparatus for removing the tops of a metal container, said container having a chime extending around the peripheral edge of the top, said apparatus comprising a casing, a first shaft joumalled within the casing, drive means for rotating the shaft, a drive roller secured to said first shaft and disposed to engage the inner surface of the chime of the container, a slide, a second shaft rotatably carried by the slide, means for mounting the slide for linear lateral movement with respect to said casing in a plane disposed at an acute angle to the axis of said first shaft, the axis of said second shaft being disposed at an acute diverging angle with respect to the axis of the first shaft in all positions of the slide, rotatable cutter means secured to the second shaft and including an annular cutting edge disposed in a plane disposed at an acute angle with respect to said first shaft, said edge adapted to engage the outer surface of the chime, connecting means for connecting the first shaft to the second shaft so that rotation of the first shaft will be transmitted to said second shaft, and operating means connected to the casing and having a member disposed to engage the slide so that movement of said operating means will move the member into engagement with the slide to thereby move said cutter means into engagement with the chime.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, and including a guide member extending downwardly from the slide and adapted to engage the outer surface of the container. z

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the slide for lateral movement comprises a guide rod mounted on said casing and freely disposed within an opening in said slide, said guide rod being disposed normal to the axis of said second shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive roller is provided with a lower generally cylindrical section disposed to engage the inner surface of the chime and an upper angularly disposed portion spaced upwardly of the chime, said cutter means severing the outer portion of the chime and severed portion being deformed upwardly into contact with the angular portion of said drive roller.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner end of the slide is disposed to engage the casing to provide a stop and limit the penetration of the cutter means in said chime.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axis of the second shaft is disposed at an angle of about 4 with respect to the axis of said first shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operating means comprises a lever pivotally connected to the casing and having a cam surface disposed to engage the slide, said lever being arranged so that pivotal movement of said lever will move the cam surface into engagement with the slide to thereby move said cutter means into engagement with the chime. 

1. An apparatus for removing the tops of a metal container, said container having a chime extending around the peripheral edge of the top, said apparatus comprising a casing, a first shaft journalled within the casing, drive means for rotating the shaft, a drive roller secured to said first shaft and disposed to engage the inner surface of the chime of the container, a slide, a second shaft rotatably carried by the slide, means for mounting the slide for linear lateral movement with respect to said casing in a plane disposed at an acute angle to the axis of said first shaft, the axis of said second shaft being disposed at an acute diverging angle with respect to the axis of the first shaft in all positions of the slide, rotatable cutter means secured to the second shaft and including an annular cutting edge disposed in a plane disposed at an acute angle with respect to said first shaft, said edge adapted to engage the outer surface of the chime, connecting means for connecting the first shaft to the second shaft so that rotation of the first shaft will be transmitted to said second shaft, and operating means connected to the casing and having a member disposed to engage the slide so that movement of said operating means will move the member into engagement with the slide to thereby move said cutter means into engagement with the chime.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, and including a guide member extending downwardly from the slide and adapted to engage the outer surface of the container.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for mounting the slide for lateral movement comprises a guide rod mounted on said casing and freely disposed within an opening in said slide, said guide rod being disposed normal to the axis of said second shaft.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive roller is provided with a lower generally cylindrical section disposed to engage the inner surface of the chime and an upper angularly disposed portion spaced upwardly of the chime, said cutter means severing the outer portion of the chime and severed portion being deformed upwardly into contact with the angular portion of said drive roller.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner end of the slide is disposed to engage the casing to provide a stop and limit the penetration of the cutter means in said chime.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axis of the second shaft is disposed at an angle of about 4* with respect to the axis of said first shaft.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said operating means comprises a lever pivotally connected to the casing and having a cam surface disposed to engage the slide, said lever being arranged so that pivotal movement of said lever will move the cam surface into engagement with the slide to thereby move said cutter means into engagement with the chime. 